Thai Yoga -- A Meridian Massage That Increases Health and Vitality
Thai Yoga Bodywork or Thai Yoga Massage Therapy is based on ancient Yoga and Ayurvedic sciences. Thai Massage, which combines energy meridian massage with gentle yoga movements, treats the whole person - body, mind, and spirit.
History of Thai Yoga Massage
The origins of Thai Yoga Massage can be traced back 2,500 years to India and the spread of Buddhism. The founding father of Thai Massage, Jivaka Kumarbhaccha, was a celebrated yogi and a doctor in the ancient healing tradition of Ayurveda (which is a science that recreates harmonious living). Of all the famous people Jivaka attended to, the most distinguished was the Buddha. As such, this ancient massage spread to Thailand with the passage of Buddhism across the Asian continent.
Traditional Thai medicine is a natural, holistic approach to health and well-being, developed over thousands of years, which includes proper nutrition, physical exercise, the use of medicinal herbs and therapeutic massage. Traditional Thai medicine is not only concerned with curing diseases and ailments. Its primary goal is maintaining health and well-being, as ancient Thais believed that "the absence of illness is the best blessing.”
The basic theory of the Thai healing tradition finds its roots in vital energy and its pathways throughout the body. Thai medicine focuses on the circulation of vital energy in the 10 major energy pathways in the body (sen). Hands-on therapy incorporates pressure points so that energy blockages can be removed, leaving energy to circulate freely in the body.
Ancient Thais treated a number of ailments by using massage to restore the flow of energy throughout the body. Traditional Thai massage is a deep, full-body treatment, which includes both stretching of the joints and muscles, and applied pressure to the sen lines. Thai people used massage not only to treat illnesses, but also to maintain health and well-being.
Thai Yoga Massage and Ayurveda
The therapeutic basis of Thai Yoga Massage is strongly rooted in the Indian healing tradition of Ayurveda. The word Ayurveda derives from two Sanskrit words: ayur, meaning "life," and veda, meaning "knowledge." As such, ayurveda functions as a guide to the proper maintenance of life.
According to Ayurveda, each individual is composed of one or a combination of the three doshas (elements) of vata (air-ether), pitta (fire-water) and kapha (earth-water). Tapping into the ancient knowledge of the tridoshas enables practitioners to treat each person according to their unique constitution.
The rhythm and intensity of a Thai massage can be guided by the Ayurvedic constitution of the client receiving the massage. Applying specific postures can balance a person’s dosha.
The Basics of a Thai Yoga Massage Session
There are hundreds of positions and techniques in Thai massage, including:
Benefits of Thai Yoga Massage
Some people call Traditional Thai Massage "Lazy man's yoga,” because the therapist supports the client in stretches and yoga poses. In many cases, the client can experience the benefit of poses that would be difficult to achieve unassisted. Also, the therapist works energy lines while the client is in the pose, which has a synergistic effect in opening and energizing the body. Clients that have an active yoga practice often find that regular Thai yoga therapy sessions enhance their practice, allow them to stretch and open more quickly and avoid injury.
Thai yoga therapy has many benefits including:
- Stress and pain relief
- Better resistance to injury
- Improved range of motion
- Release of lactic acid and other toxins from areas of accumulation
- Toning of internal organs
- Deep relaxation
To schedule a Thai Yoga Massage session, call 877-751-WELL (9355).
